TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS

The turkey is one of the most feared birds.  Many young cooks think that the turkey is hard to prepare. Well, it is not! It is one of the easiest things to prepare. I am giving you my family turkey recipe that you can pass on to your children.  This recipe can be added to as you and your family see fit, but if you want to cook a basic turkey, here is a great recipe. Also if you want to stuff the turkey, see my dressing recipe.  Make the stuffing and put into bird or serve dressing separate. I prefer it separate, but many people like the flavor of the dressing after being cooked in the turkey.


Directions:
Defrost turkey at room temperature or in refrigerator.  If you buy a fresh turkey, keep in refrigerator until ready to cook.  Do not buy a fresh turkey too far in advance. If it is cold, I sometimes leave the turkey outside to defrost, but safe from "critters".
The size does not matter; use the cooking chart at the end of this recipe as your guide.
Take out the giblets and the neck - put aside for gravy
Wash outside of turkey and inside of turkey. Cut off any excess fat if you wish.Spread butter and salt on inside and outside of bird. I use liquid butter, pour in hand and spread inside the bird.
Arrange big pieces of aluminum foil in a crisscross pattern in the shallow pan. Make sure the pieces of aluminum foil are large enough to overlap [ 5 inches] the top of the turkey on all sides.
Place turkey on the aluminum foil
Seal aluminum foil tightly. If foil is not tight, then juices will run out into the pan or in the oven.  Size of pan does matter.
Take a small piece of foil for the top. Make a tent on the top.
Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F

If you are eating early, you can cook the turkey over night and free up ovens for side dishes. If you do cook over night, cook on 275 degrees; in the morning check the temperature to determine if the bird is cooked enough. If the turnkey is not cooked enough, cook for an hour or so.  If your house is like my house, on the eve of a holiday, I am up late cooking, so put in turkey as late as you can, so it does not cook too long.
 Also remember that a cheaper turkey is just as good as a brand-name turkey if cooked in this manner; the only difference is the butter and a built-in thermometer.  Also if you have a meat thermometer, you can check the temperature of the meat yourself.  The proper temperature for your size bird will be on the bird cover/package.